The Nightingale's Song, Or, the Soldiers Rare music, And maids Recreation.  
This Song adviseth Maidens to have a care,  
And of Soldier's Snap●s●cks to beware.  
The Tuneis, No, no, no, not I; Or, Pegg and the Soldier.  
 
 
AS I went forth,  
one Sunshining day,  
A dainty young couple  
were gathering May:  
The one a fair Damosel,  
of beauty most clear,  
The other a Soldier,  
as it both appear.  
With kisses and compliments,  
to her he said,  
Good-morrow sweet Honey,  
thou well-favoured Maid,  
I think myself happy,  
I met with you here,  
As you are a Virgin,  
and I a Soldier.  
And now if you pleased be,  
I will you bring,  
Whereas you shall hear,  
the sweet Nightingale sin●  
With other late pastimes,  
my s●●ll shall be tried,  
 
Sweet sir said the Damosel)  
if you will do so,  
Then hand in hand with you,  
along I will go;  
It is Recreation,  
for Maids in the Spring,  
To see Flowers grow,  
and hear Nightingales si●g.  
And having thus spoken,  
together they went  
Unto a merry green-wood  
where some time they spent;  
I ● walking and talking  
of many a●odd thing  
But yet could not hear,  
the Nightingale sing;  
A dainty clear 〈…〉  
was 〈…〉  
A 〈…〉  
The Maid seemed unwilling,  
and said she'd be gone,  
And yet she was-●oath  
for to leave him alone,  
At lost she resolved,  
herself to this thing,  
To stay till they heard,  
the sweet Nightingale sing.  
Amongst the sweet Flowers,  
they strait way sat down,  
The young man in kindness,  
gave her a green gewn:  
He also presented  
to her a Gold Ring,  
'Cause she should stay there,  
till the sweet Nightingale sing.  
〈…〉 thus done,  
〈…〉 middle,  
 
THen now said the soldier,  
'tis time to give o'er,  
Nay prithee (woth she) play  
me one 〈◊〉 more:  
I like 〈◊〉 the setting,  
and tuning the string,  
Far better than hearing,  
the Nightingale sing.  
He struck up his Music  
unto a high strain,  
And played the Tune over,  
again and again:  
Gramercy brave Soldier,  
quoth she, that didst-bring,  
Me hither, to hear the rare  
Nightingale sing.  
Their sport being ended,  
then homeward they went,  
Each one thought the time,  
to be very well spent:  
It was (quoth the Damosel)  
a very rare thing,  
Whilst thou play'dst thy part,  
to hear the Nightingale sing.  
At last with a deep sigh,  
〈◊〉 ●se words seek she,  
〈…〉 Soldier,  
Else my hassy pleasure,  
sweet sorrows will bring,  
And I may repent I heard,  
the Nightingale sing.  
Oh no, quoth the Soldier,  
I may not do so,  
Along with my Captain,  
to morrow I must go:  
But if I come this way,  
again the next Spring,  
We'll walk once more to hear,  
the Nightingale sing.  
You Maids of the City;  
and Country, that be,  
Addicted to pleasure,  
take warning by me,  
Let no slattering Youngmen,  
tempt y● to this thing,  
To go to the wood to hear,  
the Nightingale sing.  
Make bargaia beforehand,  
for fear you miscarry,  
Know whether or no they are  
minded to Marry:  
If I had been wise, and  
had done such 〈…〉